Costa Rica (Country Guide)
by Matt Firestone
from Lonely Planet
Beyond the deserted beaches of the Nicoya Peninsula and the visceral heights of the Monteverde cloud forests lies the real Costa Rica – a land of delicate pathos, forthright purity and hard-won pacifism. Tromp through virgin rain forest – sighting poison-dart frogs and howler monkeys along the way – or simply explore the local lore and laid-back beach scene with this comprehensive guide.
Less Is More – expanded ecofriendly coverage and loads of volunteer and learning opportunities make traveling with a conscience easier than ever.
The Wild Side – spot your favorite rain forest dwellers – scarlet macaws, caimans and more – with our expert-written color wildlife section.
Gaps On The Map – lose yourself in the seldom-visited corners of this ecological powerhouse with informed do-it-yourself content and more than 80 maps.
Charge It! – surf the world’s longest left at Pavones, hike through rain forest in Corcovado or drop into roaring rapids with our Adventure Travel chapter.
Waterproof Travel Map of Costa Rica
by Toucan Maps
from Toucan Maps, Inc.
Reviews
Nicely organized...with detailed maps and travel information on each region. --Recommending the online version of the Toucan Map at Costa-Rica-Guide.com
--Lonely Planet Costa Rica, 7th edition page 26
The best map Costa Rica has ever seen.
--Jack Ewing, Founder Hacienda Baru Wildlife Refuge
Waterproof, rugged and current roadmap of Costa Rica, San Jose and more than a dozen of the most visited regions.
2 sided, 39 in. x 26.25 in. (4.875 in. x 9 in. folded)
Roads are clearly differentiated by color and line width for classes from limited access divided highways down to 4WD seasonal tracks. Highway on and off-ramps are shown for the entire central valley. Popular hiking and horseback trails and trail-heads are also shown.
Locations are clearly marked and easy to read indexes are included for cities and towns, National Parks and other natural areas, beaches, rivers (white water rafting locations are indicated as well), peaks, volcanoes, waterfalls and the best hotels restaurants and activities.
The current, accurate, detailed, and readable large scale map of Costa Rica is complimented by a set of innovative exclusive features not available anywhere else.
Exclusives
o Street level details for San Jose, Alajuela, Arenal Volcano/Fortuna, Escazu, Heredia, Manuel Antonio/Quepos, Monteverde/Santa Elena, Playa Jaco, Playa Tamarindo, Puerto Jimenez, Puerto Viejo de o Talamanca, & the entire Central Valley.
o Recommendations based on 15 years experience for over two hundred hotels, resorts, lodges and even campgrounds in every price range, and over a hundred and fifty of the best restaurants.
o Proprietary symbols for distinctively Costa Rican attractions like zip-line and hanging bridge canopy exploration, butterfly gardens, rappelling down canyons, and surf camps, as well as the more typical activities like horseback riding, SCUBA, deep sea fishing, golf, rafting and many more. You can see at a glance what there is to do around Arenal volcano and Monteverde cloud forest, as well as along the road between them.
o Driving distance table and mini map for calculating trip distances and estimating drive times.
o A few dozen useful English to Spanish phrase and word translations are provided in an inset. You will appreciate having What is the best way to get there? and Can you please show me on the map? at your fingertips if you need to ask directions.
This edition replaces the 4 1/2 star first edition ISBN 0-9763733-0-0 addressing the helpful comments provided in the Amazon and other reviews, updating the surfacing indications for hundreds of km of newly paved roads, correcting known errors and adding highly requested regional detail maps.
Frommer's Costa Rica 2008 (Frommer's Complete)
by Eliot Greenspan
from Frommers
Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's Costa Rica features gorgeous color photos of the lush rain forest, the amazing array of wildlife, and the spectacular beaches that await you. Personally researched by a longtime resident, it's the only truly up-to-date guide that gives you such in-depth coverage of this fast-changing country, with recommended accommodations in every price category. You'll visit rugged wilderness preserves and sleepy beach towns, spectacular orchid gardens and mineral hot springs at the foot of a steaming volcano. There are adventures here to suit all ages and abilities: swooping from treetop platform to treetop platform on a canopy tour, taking a dip in a jungle swimming hole, spotting playful spider monkeys as you hike through lush foliage, windsurfing on Lake Arenal, or watching endangered sea turtles nest on the beach. With Frommer's in hand, you'll experience the wonder of Costa Rica's amazing biodiversity, as we point out the best places to see hundreds of unique, colorful species of animals and plants. You'll even get a color fold-out map!
The Birds of Costa Rica: A Field Guide
by Richard Garrigues
from Cornell University Press
"Graced with bounteous natural beauty, a stable democratic government, and friendly citizens, Costa Rica has become a popular destination for travelers from all over the world. Birds play a prominent role in attracting visitors, too. The shimmering quetzals, gaudy macaws, and comical toucans only begin to hint at the impressive avian diversity to be found throughout this small country."--from the Introduction This is the one field guide the novice or experienced birder needs to identify birds in the field in the diverse habitats found in Costa Rica. It features descriptions and illustrations of more than 820 resident and neotropical migrant species found in Costa Rica, all in a compact, portable, user-friendly design. The detailed full-color illustrations show identifying features--including plumage differences among males, females, and juveniles--and views of birds in flight wherever pertinent. Additional features of this all-new guide include:
o 166 original color plates depicting more than 820 species.
o Concise text that describes key field marks for positive identification, as well as habitat, behavior, and vocalizations.
o Range maps and texts arranged on opposing pages from illustrations for quick, easy reference.
o The most up-to-date bird list for Costa Rica.
o A visual guide to the anatomical features of birds with accompanying explanatory text.
o Quick reference to vultures and raptors in flight.
Central America (Shoestring)
by Robert Reid
from Lonely Planet
Dig into history along the Ruta Maya, zip through the rain forest canopy or spend the day searching out that perfect hammock spot by the beach. Adventures are born every day in Central America. And this comprehensive guide - with expanded Yucatan and Chiapas coverage - gives you the tools to avoid spending an arm and a leg on the journey of a lifetime.
Explore More - expanded do-it-yourself features help you create your own adventure beyond the 'Gringo Trail.'
Get Lost - detailed language and cultural coverage and more than 120 maps means you'll never get lost...unless you want to.
Immerse Yourself - volunteer as a game warden, study Spanish, or simply learn how to extend your stay.
Culture Club - candid local interviews reveal the true nature and spirit of the isthmus' No. 1 natural resource - its people.
ALL NEW
Highlights & Planning Sections
Cutomized Itineraries
Snapshot Coverage
Responsible Travel Tips
Cross-referenced Maps
Guide to Costa Rican Spanish
by Christopher Howard
from Costa Rica Books
A complete guide to Spanish for Travelers. Practical Pronunciation Exercises to Help you Sound Like a Native Spanish Speaker Useful expressions for Real Life Situations That You Will Encounter. Costa Rican Slang. Practical Vocabulary, Including Business and Legal Terms. Includes an English/Spanish-Spanish/English Dictionary.
Moon Handbooks Panama (Moon Handbooks)
by William Friar
from Avalon Travel Publishing
Moon Costa Rica (Moon Handbooks)
by Christopher P. Baker
from Avalon Travel Publishing
Costa Rican Wildlife: An Introduction to Familiar Species (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press)
by James Kavanagh
from Waterford Press
Moon Nicaragua (Moon Handbooks)
by Joshua Berman
from Avalon Travel Publishing
+++
Flamingo Marina Resort 4 STARS
The air-conditioned establishment is located just 30 m above the ocean and offers guests a spectacular view over the Potrero coast and it overlooks the largest yacht marina in Central America. The hotel includes a total of 22 double rooms, 8 suites and 60 apartments over two floors. Amenities include a bar, a souvenir shop, a currency exchange facility, a restaurant, a large, open-air dining area, a conference room with space for 50 persons, a shuttle transport service as well as a travel agent.
